Airbag light issue

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brawnyblue

Member
I have the standard airbag light issue. Red airbag light in the dash, clearing the error in the ECU using INPA clears it.

Here's the problem. The airbag light will stay off as long as no one is in the passenger seat. As soon as someone sits down (or most of the times) and puts on their seatbelt the airbag light comes back on. Clearing the error memory using INPA turns the light back off until someone sits down again.

Any idea what could be causing this? I suspect the passenger seat mat as this seems to be the common culprit of the issue but I'd like to get some confirmation. Also, any idea how much it is to get this fixed?
 
You could be right with your diagnosis, you should be able to check the error code using INPA. I suspect if its not the matt it will be the seatbelt pre-tensioner.

Had an occupancy mat failure in my 330d. Bought one of these off fleabay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-PASSENGER-SEAT-OCCUPANCY-BYPASS-MAT-SENSOR-AIRBAG-E46E36E38E39E60E65M3M5Z3X5-/330695789403?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4cff014b5b#ht_4585wt_922

Sorted the problem for me.


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The Ebay advert states...

"This bypass has been proven to show on BMW forums that Passenger Seat as OCCUPIED .You can see in picture below that when car is connected to the BMW diagnostic software INPA that it shows you live state of the passenger seat which is OCCUPIED. This means the car should behave as it would with a normal functioning occupancy mat sensor. (SitzBelegungsErkennung is German for Seat Occupancy Sensor and Pass. is obviously for Passenger)"

Mmmm. If this were true wouldn't you need to have your passenger seatbelt fastened permanently to avoid that light and buzzer? Also can you be sure that the airbag etc. will be in operation? Personally I'd rather fix this properly rather than just bypass a light to get through an MOT. :thumbsdown:
 
I don't get any alarms/buzzers for not having a belt fastened on the 330d although it is 53 plate so may well be different now.

I have also checked with my diagnostic kit and the seat does show occupied. The only downside to this is that if you have an accident the passenger airbag will always fire irrespective of whether there is a passenger in the seat or not. Obviously causing more damage to your dash that might not be needed.

Its just emulating the correct electrical signal that a matt would if a passenger was in your seat. There is nothing to worry about.

To fix the passenger matt by replacement it is about 250-300 pounds. Agreed, if this was my z with the problem i may well fix it properly but when you way up the costs you cant ignore the bypass option...


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The bypass is approx £10 off ebay and you code the car with sssv32 in retro section you can deactivate the passenger seat belt reminder. Cheap option.


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Is there a bypass for the Z4 which works without having to put the seatbelt in, ie one which always sends the signal of the seat being occupied? I can't find anyones for the E85 anywhere. Only those where you have to have the seatbelt plugged in or those where the passenger airbag does not work at all (sends signal unoccupied)
 
This is the one I used which works on pre-facelift models

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-PASSENGER-SEAT-OCCUPANCY-BYPASS-MAT-SENSOR-AIRBAG-E46E36E38E39E60E65M3M5Z3X5-/330695789403?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4cff014b5b#ht_4585wt_922

It shows hat someone is in the seat thus the need to deactivate the seat belt reminder chime.


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mac27040 said:
This is the one I used which works on pre-facelift models

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-PASSENGER-SEAT-OCCUPANCY-BYPASS-MAT-SENSOR-AIRBAG-E46E36E38E39E60E65M3M5Z3X5-/330695789403?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4cff014b5b#ht_4585wt_922

It shows hat someone is in the seat thus the need to deactivate the seat belt reminder chime.


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Click to expand...

The seatbelt reminder for my passenger seat is deactivated in any case so this solution would simply be a plug and play right? Only need to reset the error and the airbag works?
 
tim182 said:
The seatbelt reminder for my passenger seat is deactivated in any case so this solution would simply be a plug and play right? Only need to reset the error and the airbag works?
Click to expand...

Yes thats right, might not even need to reset the light it may just go out.



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What about this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-airbag-passenger-seat-occupancy-mat-sensor-bypass-E38-E39-E46-E65-E66-M5-M3-/271033523101?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f1adb5b9d#ht_1627wt_1397
 
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